Image capture device with flexible circuit board

Abstract

An image capture device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a cover coupled to a mount to surround a stereoscopic-camera unit. The stereoscopic-camera unit includes a circuit board coupled to a frame. A floating board-section of the circuit board accommodates expansion and contraction of the frame.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A stereoscopic-camera unit comprising
 a frame; 
 a circuit board having a floating board-section positioned to lie along the frame without being attached thereto, a first image board-section coupled to an end of the floating board-section, and a second image board-section coupled to an opposing end of the floating board-section from the first image board-section, and 
 a mount comprising a base and a stake, the stake extending from the base through an opening of the floating board-section and engaging with the frame so that the base is spaced apart from the circuit board, 
 wherein the first image board-section and the second image board-section are fixed in relation to the frame, and the floating board-section is configured to move relative to the first image board-section and the second image board-section and relative to the frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is sized such that the floating board-section does not contact the stake during movement of the floating board-section. 
     
     
       3. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the base of the mount to substantially enclose the frame and circuit board within the cover. 
     
     
       4. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 1 , wherein the floating board-section, the first image board-section, and the second image board-section of the circuit board are substantially rigid. 
     
     
       5. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 4 , further comprising a first flexible interconnect coupled between the first image board-section and the floating board-section and a second flexible interconnect coupled between the second image board-section and the floating board-section, and wherein the first flexible interconnect and the second flexible interconnect are substantially flexible to allow the floating board-section to move relative to the first image board-section and the second image board-section. 
     
     
       6. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 5 , wherein the first flexible interconnect and the second flexible interconnect are each formed as a flattened ribbon cable. 
     
     
       7. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first image sensor coupled to the first image board-section of the circuit board and a second image sensor coupled to the second image board-section of the circuit board. 
     
     
       8. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 7 , wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are aligned with respective apertures extending through the frame. 
     
     
       9. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 8 , further comprising lenses coupled to the frame and aligned with the apertures. 
     
     
       10. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 1 , wherein the floating board-section is generally aligned with the first and second image board-sections. 
     
     
       11. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 10 , wherein the floating board-section is generally co-planar with the first and second image board-sections. 
     
     
       12. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is formed from a metal or metal alloy material. 
     
     
       13. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 12 , wherein the frame is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
       14. An image capture device comprising:
 a cover having windows extending therethrough; 
 a mount having a base and a stake extending from the base; and 
 a stereoscopic-camera unit comprising: 
 a frame coupled to the stake of the mount; 
 a circuit board having a floating board-section positioned to lie along the frame without being attached thereto, a first image board-section coupled to an end of the floating board-section, and a second image board-section coupled to an opposing end of the floating board-section from the first image board-section; and 
 a first image sensor coupled to the first image board-section of the circuit board and a second image sensor coupled to the second image board-section of the circuit board, 
 wherein,
 the first image board-section and the second image board-section are fixed in relation to the frame, 
 the floating board-section is configured to move relative to the first image board-section and the second image board-section and relative to the frame, 
 the cover is coupled to the base of the mount to substantially enclose the frame and circuit board within the cover and align each window of the cover with one of the first or second image sensors, and 
 the stake is configured to extend through an opening of the floating board-section to engage with the frame so that the base is spaced apart from the circuit board, and wherein the opening is sized such that the floating board-section does not contact the stake during movement of the floating board-section. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 14 , further comprising a first flexible interconnect coupled between the first image board-section and the floating board-section and a second flexible interconnect coupled between the second image board-section and the floating board-section, wherein the first flexible interconnect and the second flexible interconnect are substantially flexible to allow the floating board-section to move relative to the first image board-section and the second image board-section, and wherein the floating board-section, the first image board-section, and the second image board-section of the circuit board are substantially rigid. 
     
     
       16. The stereoscopic camera unit of  claim 14 , further comprising lenses, wherein the frame is formed to include apertures extending through the frame, wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are each aligned with one of the apertures, and wherein the lenses are coupled to the frame and each aligned with one of the apertures. 
     
     
       17. An image capture device comprising:
 a cover having windows extending therethrough; 
 a mount having a base and a stake extending from the base; and 
 a stereoscopic-camera unit comprising: 
 a frame coupled to the stake of the mount; 
 a circuit board having a floating board-section positioned to lie along the frame without being attached thereto, a first image board-section coupled to an end of the floating board-section by a first flexible interconnect, and a second image board-section coupled to an opposing end of the floating board-section from the first image board-section by a second flexible interconnect; and 
 a first image sensor coupled to the first image board-section of the circuit board and a second image sensor coupled to the second image board-section of the circuit board, 
 wherein;
 the first image board-section and the second image board-section are fixed in relation to the frame, 
 the floating board-section is configured to move relative to the first image board-section and the second image board-section and relative to the frame, 
 the cover is coupled to the base of the mount to substantially enclose the frame and circuit board within the cover and align each window of the cover with one of the first or second image sensors, 
 the frame has a different coefficient of thermal expansion from and the first image board-section, the second image board-section, and the floating board-section, and 
 
 the stake is configured to extend through an opening of the floating board-section to engage with the frame so that the base is spaced apart from the circuit board, and wherein the opening is sized such that the floating board-section does not contact the stake during movement of the floating board-section.